Golf bag carrier



Feb. 17, 1953 H, UNM 2,628,801

com BAG CARRIER Filqd Aug. 2, 194a 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 36 Z70SEPH HENRY Gum/we,

' INVENTOR.

BY/W/.:

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 17, 1953 J. H. GUNNING GOLF BAG CARRIER Filed Aug. 2, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 fiss u fi-wey GZ/NMA/G,

INVENTOR.

/K-Wffl9 ATTOkA/EYS.

Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

GOLF-.iBAG CARRIER Joseph Henry Gunning, Manhattan BeacmCalif; i Application August 2, 1948;;Serial-No.111,911:

8 Claims. (Cl; 248-'-96.)'

. The present inventionlrelatesgenenally tel-a baginssupported position omthe golf course, and;

is adapted: :to removal 01? "the: wheeled support: to

facilitate -transportingthe bag when not on the .golfrcourse. I a

Numerous devices have :beenzdetelopcd in the past for supporting ;a golf bag: in -propped-up.

condition on the linksrsothat: a player. can @carry his: own bag vithout the necessity of; laying it down :onv theiground and picking; it 111D ra -amt at each stroke. Also numerous golf bag transporting carts :havebeen-:availab1e;rim;recent :years, :but

many of -suchrdevices have been. relatively: :heavy. cumhersometo handle when transporting top-and from the :golt colurse; and expensive: to, rmanu facture;

An object'of the present invention "iSztO: make 1 .anniimproyed golf .bag. supporting cart. I.

Another object is to makra golfersicaitt'which isuadapteduto receive-a :golf bag- 1in airframe, on which-wheeledsupportsreand ca .ihazudle removably mourn;e.'d-.;

. Anothenobject is to; connect; wheeled supports to. a golf bag; :byra'emoya'blei means; .zthe :wheeled sup-norts'rhaying elongated; .rsupporlting. "elements adapted "to fit; like: :golf i clubs; into: :the bag nor transportingeofizthe golf-courses. 1

Another :objectis; to; a longitudinally stiffened'zgolfi bag on-a supporting-iramehaving a pair of supnort stmts releaseablysecured thereto to: .formy-with :the stiffened tbagga supporting tripod, adapted toiaholdutheebag.irr-aposition in which clubs can be easily removed oninserted during zplay.

Another object-is tomakeia golfers cart :having a :frame adapted. to 1 support a "golf bagr-a:pair of:.elonga.te-d wheeled supports and 'a handle being .removably secured to the frame hy-ar-single securing arrangement whereby the wheeldsupports and handle :are removable :for insertion, like golf clubs, inithe golf .-hag.;

Another object .istoma-ke a ,golfer's'cart-with elongated wheeled support struts assembledfrom a plurality of -endwiseassembled units which are .clemountable -for shortening, and which maythen .be reassembled, to 1 balance the assembly when in towing position-according to the height of player;

Inorder to attain these objects, there is pro-=- vided, in accordance with onearrangement. of the invention, a frame of light stiffmaterial havingan area thereof formed to encircle partially or completely a golf. bagand to support a golf bag, the bag being secured to the frame, A pair. of leg support sockets and .a handle socket are. provided .in .the frame, thelleg sockets .being at. acute angles to. the longitudinal.axislof the bag and to each other. Fastening means is pro- ,re-moved -Irom the :frame.

These and other teatnresnf-the; invention will berhroughtr out. in the. :iollowing description :and the accompanying drawin s comprising 1 two sheets.

Inthe drawings:

Fig.- :1 is a :side' elevational viewwof a eel-f ba mounted on "a cart embodying the mnesent'rinvention, a plurality f golf clubsheineindicated in the hag, in-v dot=dash :lines, athe: oartyandhas .being shown-in osition. forxwheelme-the .cart around the gqlf .-.cours.e;

Fig. 2 isaxsim-ilar .viewzto Fig; .1 showing the rest position with the-hag bottomeresting omthe ground;

Fig. 3 is a front elevationalw-view Of. thedevice as shown in Fig-.21;

Fig. 4 is :a front *eleyational view-at reduced scale of the devicerasrit 'appearswwithwheeled support strutsasandxhandle. removed aandpstowed in the bag fOr transportoif the golf 26018183??? 1 Fig; .5 is --a longitudinal vertical ssect-ionaliyiew atenlarged scaleof the device. the lower nortions otthelwheeled-suppott struts heing-brok naway;

Fig, 6 xisa further-enlarged,fragment:s;1f.: the sectional v view .of Fig. showing. the handle? and support-strut locking mechanism; I

Fig...=7 is an enlarged-fragmentary -verticalisecr tional view-taken on the lane-:01 -;line-'!-.-1 of Fig. 6, the handle andstrut locking! mechanism being. shown in releasing @-.positi0n in sdotedash linestand:

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal: vertical sectional. .view of a haal a.yingsa .modified.. mounting ..arrangement and ihandleefrom-thatinns-,- .tratedinFis-efi thedcwer. portion=-o.-the frame .beinghrokenawan;-

Referringto the; structureillustrated ;in. F.igs. .-1 to 7 inclusive a generally. planitormn narrow frame...-10. is.=.of... stifi. -.light and. ,strongn material,

such as. castalumin mior magnesium a1loys,..o.r

asuitable v last.ic.,.- The .frame has a sad-dialer opening H therein or a sizetand shone. toireceiv-e and.v at leastpartially to-encircle .a .golf. bag. oi. a usual.,or...desired size.and.shape.- The saddleor opening. ispreferably formed. to. define. a diagonal section through the, bag. to. be mounted therein. The particnlarirame illustratedisshapedzto receive a light, round, golfhae l 2 of canvas .01: oth r similar. material, Howeverhmy. imzentionis :not limited .to. anyfipfiqificmsize or shape or. typapf golf bag asthe frame .caobe. designedmtohold any desired .bag. The. wall .ofopening, l .l. in the frame illustrated thus has an oval or..elintical shape; and the longitudinal axis of then emng is disposed at..ar.1.. acute. downward randn'eatwa-rd angle relative to the pi incipaliplaneoiithe frame, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

A pair of socket openings I5 are provided in the bottom of the frame Ii) to receive the up per ends of a pair of wheeled support struts I3 and I4 telescopically therein. The axes of the sockets are in the median plane of the frame I0, or are at least substantially parallel thereto, but converge toward their upper ends; and the wheeled struts I3 and I4, fitted therein, and frame In form a supporting wheeled bipod for towing the device on the links. Consequently, the axes of struts I3 and I4 lie in a common plane which is preferably parallel or coplanar to the median plane of frame I0. and which intersects the longitudinal axis of the bag at an acute angle. Supporting wheels I I and I 8 are pivoted on horizontal axles at the lower ends of the struts I3 and I4 respectively, and are well spaced to provide adequate lateral stability for the device.

Each strut preferably has a light, strong, main 71 tubular body portion I9 with upper and lower end fitting and 2| respectively mounted thereon. Each upper strut fitting 20 is preferably of the same outer diameter as the internal diameter of the tubular strut body I9, into which it is inserted, as shown in Fig. '7. Through rivets 22 secure each upper fitting 20 to its tube. The lower or wheel mounting fittings 2| are secured to the lower ends of the struts I3 and I4, as shown in Fig. 3. These fittings 20 and 2| may be of hardwood or other suitable material such as aluminum or magnesium alloys or plastic as desired. If desired, solid rods may be used in place of the hollow tubes, in which case fitting 2|) and 2| can be eliminated as separate members for the ends of such rods can be inserted directly into sockets I5 in frame I0 and the axles for wheels I! and I8 can be attached directly to the rods.

Each of the wheel mounting fittings 2| has an upper portion 33 of a diameter to fit telescopiis horizontal when in operative position. Hence wheels I1 and I8 are in substantially upright fore-and-aft position when the struts are as- 5 sembled and secured on the frame ID as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 7.

A notch 23 is provided in one side near the top of each upper fitting 20, the upper end of each notch being disposed in a plane transverse of the I I longitudinal axis of the fitting. Fach notch 23 is on the side opposite to the wheel carried by the strut. The upper strut fittings are intended to be inserted in their respective sockets so that the notches 23 face inwardly to ard each other as shown in Fig. '7; and when locked in this position, the wheels and axles are properly oriented to roll on the ground. Proper orientation of the struts is initially secured and also retained by a prises a leaf or fiat spring 24. The spring is connected at its center to the upper end of a looking screw 25 by a headed pin 21 (Fig. 6), the shank of which passes freely through a hole in the center of the spring and downwardly into an axial bore in screw 25. The pin is secured to the bore of the screw by a through pin 28, which also secures hand wheel 29 to the lower end of the screw 25. This arrangement holds the spring closely against the upper end of the screw, but permits free rotation of the screw relative to the spring. As seen in Fig. 6, spring 24 is the full transverse width of the interior opening in frame II), at least at the center portion. This not only holds the spring against turning when the screw 25 is turned, but also provides a bearing against the body of frame I0 to take the pull on the towing handle, described below.

The screw has threaded engagement with a threaded bore in the bottom of the frame I0. Since the frame is ordinarily of a material so soft as to be unsuitable for long continued threaded support of the screw 25, a threaded insert plate 30 of steel or other suitable material is preferably provided :and secured to the lower side of the frame, as by screws 3|, as in Figs. 6 and '7. The opening closed by plate 30 is of a size to permit insertion of leaf spring 24 into the interior of frame I0.

To free the struts, the screw 25 may be screwed outwardly to the dot-dash position of Fig. '7. This draws the spring downwardly to the dot-dash position of Fig. 7, and moves the outer ends of the leaf spring 24 clear of the notches 23 in the upper strut fittings 20. This permits insertion or withdrawal of the upper strut fittings relativelyto their sockets.

After the upper strut fittings 20 are inserted in their respective sockets with their notches 23 facing inwardly toward each other, the screw 25 may be rotated to advance it to the solid line position of Fig. '7, at which time the ends of the leaf spring 24 enter and engage notches 23, thereby securely retaining the struts in position in their respective sockets. Continued rotation of the screw 25 after the ends of spring 24 first seat in the transverse end faces of notches 23 tends to straighten the bowed spring, thereby forcing it ends outwardly into tighter gripping engagement with the notches 23.

A handle receiving socket is provided in the frame I3, a best shown in Fig. 6, to receive the rearward end of a removable towing handle 31 therein. The axis of the handle socket is disposed in a slightly upward and forward direction relatively to the plane of the frame I0 when the pin 26 at the upper end of each socket I5. The

frame is upright as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The inner end of the handle 37 has a notch as at 38 with an end wall 39. When the locking screw 25 is advanced to raise spring 23 into strut gripping position as illustrated in Fig. 6 and in solid lines in Fig. '7, the top central portion of the spring is also forced into notch 33 in the handle. This engagement anchors the handle securely in its socket. When the locking screw 25 is retracted to the dot-dash line position of 7 to free the wheel struts, the towing handle is also freed for removal by the withdrawal of the spring to clear the end 39 of the notch. The outer end of the towing handle may be provided with a suitable grip, such as the spade grip 46, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or a straight grip '58, Fig. 8.

flany golf bags have sufiicient longitudinal stiffness to support their own weight when mounted on a frame such a the frame I3. Howsever-wherewa baggoi minimum weightand with flexibly connected bottom isjxrdesired, as :in. the structureshownzin Figsajl to :6, inclusive, a light canvas golf bag'lztmayebeemployed: .This'ebag has v astifi; wear-resistant bottomzfifl :ofzsole leather or other suitable material mounted thereon." A longitudinal stiffener stag .74 I, :which ma-y beef strong :straighte-gramedhardwood; Tmetallic stu'bing uor-other suitable material, ,ist-tsecured lengthwise, inside and along :the upperz'side oftthe bag,..:as by :rivetsazor screws 4l",.as'. it iappearswin Figs. 1,2,. 3 andrfi; This-stay is suitably secured to the frame sit; as byscrews 42: so that thesstitfened bag form one leg of a supporting .t-ripod when the deviceis:tiltedrearwardlysas shown in Fig-22.: lnthisrpositiontthe wheeled strutsficomprise the. other two :legsof the tripod. a

The center cit -gravity ofzthe cart'with a "load of:- clubs thereon; when :thussupported :on :the tripod is. located 'welll'within the triangle defined by. :the base: not :Tthe -.tripod.' The. bag of iclubs, therefore, is supported inzstable upright position 'toofacilitate. selection, withdrawal :and. replace- 'IIlfiI'lt10fl81l1bs by. a player using the device:

The legs-.or'supporting .strutsc-lit and 14 are ina clined to the longitudinal axis of the bag when mounted on the frame,=':so that when theucart, with itsload of clubs-is tilted. forwardly to towing position, .as .in Fig. i1, the.-center of gravity is substantiallyxover :theuwheelsr :Such a condition of balance makes "IOlfiil'lMlIllillHl' ease in towing the loaded cart.

A. bag stiffening plate 43-, curved toconform to the .interioruof the golf;:bag, is secured, in the emho diment illustrated i sag-15,: inside the: lower :sideof the bagato overlie the frame-Hi. It 'is'secured totheframeiby screws A i, and extends from the frame. It] forwardly to the mouth of the bag. This "platesupports the usual stiffener "ring 45 around thefimouth of: the bag and prevents it *from'saggingdown asuit would-tend to do With-'- outsthe sstiiiener plate- 43;

N o stiife'ning means are shown :along the iower side of the bag nearits b-aseyso that whenthe device is tilted back to :rest on "the-bottom of the bag, :the bottornuof thenbag tends to lie. flat along the ground asrshown'rinFig. 2. 'This distributes the wear which otherwise would be concentrated on the lower edge of the bag bottom 40 The modified construction shown in Fig; '8 is the same as describedabove; =eXcept-for a change in the. frame to omit theupper portion passing over the bag and the addition oft an: internal stiffener inside. the bag-to take over the function of the omitted frame part. The upper side of a bag mounting. -.-frame1 50 is concavely curved to form a sloping saddle 5| Whereon a golf bag ,52 is-adaptedto rest. Astiff sleeve 53 ofaisiz'eand shape to fit closely into the golf oagisdnserted therein to, providc:.stiii eningx means entirely around-the interior of the bag. This sleevei's secured to the saddle portion fil of theirame as byscrews54. Sleeve 53 mayhave circumferential ribs 5 3a,.. as shown, to add toits rigidity:

In the :first form described,.the upper'nart of the, loop .in the frame through which the-bag passes supports, at least in part-,theupperpor- :tion of the-bag and holds it open. In the. .form :of- Fig:. '8 this support for .thebag isafiorded entirely by. the sleeve 53. The :sleeve amounts :to an extension of plate 43 into a closed figure to increase its supporting powers The latter construction has the advantageof being lighterand easier to make. and :easier .tocadapt (it .lt'o any specific bag.. Eonmostsatistaotory construction,

the-.cartwi-ll :bedesigned 'to accommodate a particularizbag or bass; sold-twith thecart; but my invention is also adaptable, by changing the size andi shape of sleeve 53, to various-bags that may already beowned by: purchasers of the cart alone. As ail-alternate construction, the sleeve can be placed outside the golf baa.

As shown in Figrfi, a stiffening stay 56 similar tolthc stay .14 I- previouslyideseribed may be pro videdalongqthe entirelength of. the upper side of thebag. It-is fastened to sleeve'53 by bolts or rivets 55. I-fadesired, stiff material, such as sole leather; plastic sheet .or even-sheetmetal, may

Ice-substituted :for thewcanvas of the. bag illustrated. In such cases no extraneou stifiening means would be required.

-In.-.the matter of balance, the exact position of thevcenter otgravityvaries with the weight of theme and-the number and weight of-clubs. vIt mayi-be ieasilya-visualized from Fig. l,.thatthe lighter the-baa and-.theinore clubs there are in :the-.bag, the: further forwardwill be the center of gravity iof the. device when loaded with clubs and tilted-into position.-forttowing. Ideally the center of gravityisdirectly overthe wheels'when the -struts are vertical, as in Fig. 1. To obtain this .-relation,..the center of gravity .is located as closeraspossible to theplaneof the axis of. struts (Brand itabutin anygivencase that plane may beslightly inclined to the vertical .when the center oi. gravity. isdn .a verticalplane passing through the ,poin tlof ground engagement of wheels I! and 1.8..v

In order that each player can have hisown cart balanced for maximum ease in drawing it about the golf course, the wheel strut tubes [9 preferably are supplied by the factory in .a maximum length to suit =an.extreme case of .a-tall player carrying alight load of clubs in a heavybag. Such a conditionwould require tilting the cart we11 forward to-bala'nce the load and the handle would have to be high to suitsucha talLplayer.

From this initial extreme condition of strut length, cachp-layer can test the balance .of the cart with Ihis'own choice of bags mounted thereon and carrying his usual load .of iclubs' Withthe device. balanced under these conditions the vplayer then decides on theihandle'height he desires for towing. the cart. Then, by removing .one of. strut fittings 2i} or 2.1",cutting .olf'lthestrutsto lower the. handle to such'desired height, and again securing the strut fittings. properly in .position, each player is assured of .maximumaease and comfort in towingfhisibag oficlubs aboutthelinks.

Minor. variations infhalance can also .besecured by slightly'gbending thev towing handle.

For transporting the. has lead .of. clubs off the links, as in auto'mobiles,..oh trains. andthe like, the wheelstrutsand handleare removed asabove set .forth,'...and inserted in the. bag like so. many golf 7 clubs, the. -wheels .overhangingisthe mouthof the bag..as..shown.in-Fig. 4w 7 The; device. is jlight and-easy to transport; 00m prises substantially .an integral-component of :the bag itself, and adds very. little to. the weight-or inconvenience whens-transporting :the clubs off .thegolf-course The-entire assemblvaiszextremely attractive initssairplane type appearance, and can be easily -.se.t 'upi'aand :dismounted by any golfer. It has no adjustments which are apt to .getoutoi ordenand may be :fitte'd readilytothe varyin :zrequirements pf 'each :individuar owner and his particularzload of acluzbs.v

In-i-tsbroader aspects, myiinvention 1 isi-indesender-1t of the nature-eithe olfibag. :andeof the specific means used to reinforce it and to attach it to the frame, including stay ll and plate 43 or the equivalent devices, Hence it will be understood that the shape, size, and location of the reinforcing or stiffening members and the attachment means may be varied to suit the bag being used and may depart from the presently preferred forms shown and described.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred form of my invention and some modification thereof, it will be apparent to those familiar with the art that the device is capable of other modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a golf bag cart, the combination comprising: a central, rigid, unitary frame; walls forming a cavity within said frame; means forming a pair of oppositely disposed upwardly converging sockets in said frame, each said socket intersecting said cavity to provide oppositely disposed openings communicating therewith; means forming a third socket in said frame extending substantially normal to the common plane of said first two sockets and intersecting said cavity to provide a lateral opening communicating therewith; a strut arranged in each of said sockets and each having a portion thereof exposed in said cavity for contact with locking means; an elongate, generally horizontally located locking bar in said cavity with its free ends located beneath the adjacent exposed portions of the struts in said first two sockets and with its central portion located beneath the strut in said third socket; and screw threaded vertically adjustable means extending upwardly into said cavity thru the bottom wall thereof and engaged with said locking bar to adjustably urge said bar upward into contact with all of said struts to lock them in position in said frame.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner end of each trut is formed with a locking notch in a side thereof, and said locking bar is adapted to engage said notches to provide a positive locking engagement.

3. Support structure for a golf bag cart comprising: a central, rigid frame; walls, including a bottom wall, forming a cavity within said frame; means forming a pair of strut-receiving sockets extending upwardly and inwardly into said frame and intersecting said cavity to provide oppositely disposed openings communicating therewith above said bottom wall; means forming a handle-receiving socket extending into said frame in a direction substantially normal to the plane of said strut-receiving sockets and intersecting said cavity above said-bottom wall; struts arranged in said first sockets and a handle arranged in said third socket, with portions of each exposed within said cavity; an elongate, generally horizontally arranged, upwardly concave, resilient locking bar lying adjacent to said bottom wall; and adjustable means carried by said bottom wall to urge said bar upwardly to cause its free ends to engage said struts and to spring its central portion upwardly into engagement with said handle; whereby said struts and handle are securely locked in assembled relation with said frame.

4. Support structure for a golf bag cart comprising: a central, rigid frame; walls, including a bottom wall, forming a cavity within said frame; means forming a pair of strut-receiving sockets extending upwardly and inwardly into said frame and intersecting said cavity to provide oppositely disposed openings communicating therewith above said bottom wall; a strut located in each of said sockets with its inner end extending into said cavity to provide a laterally exposed side portion; a horizontally arranged locking bar having a retracted position adjacent to said bottom wall; and adjustable means carried by said frame and attached to said locking bar; said means being adjustable upwardly to urge said locking bar upwardly and cause the free ends of said bar to engage the side portions of said struts to lock them in assembled relation with said frame.

5. The combination as claimed inclaim 4, in which said locking bar is an elongate upwardly concave resilient member and said adjustable means produces an upward force on the medial portion of said bar tending to straighten same and increase its locking force on said struts.

6. Support structure for a golf bag cart, comprising: a rigid frame; wall means forming a cavity within said frame; means forming a pair of converging sockets extending through said frame and communicating with said cavity; a strut slidable in each socket with its inner end extending into said cavity; a locking member located in said cavity between said inner strut ends and adjacent to one of said wall means; and support means for said locking member carried by said frame and adjustable to urge said locking member away from said one wall means and into engagement with said strut ends to lock them in assembled relation with said frame.

7. Support structure for a golf bag cart, comprising: a rigid frame; wall means forming a cavity within said frame; means forming a plurality of sockets extending thru said frame and communicating with said cavity; a strut slidable in each socket with its inner end extending into said cavity; a locking member located in said cavity and having a retracted position adjacent one of said wall means and spaced from each of said inner strut ends; and support means for said locking member carried by said frame and adjustable to urge said locking member away from said one wall means and into engagement with said strut ends to lock them in assembled relation with said frame.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7, in which said locking member is formed of resilient material to equalize its locking engagement with said plurality of strut ends.

JOSEPH HENRY GUNNING.

CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

